scholarly journals Development of a Multifunctional Radiation Measurement System for the Rapid Radiological Characterization of a Decommissioned Nuclear Facility Site

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Han Young Joo ◽  
Jae Wook Kim ◽  
Young Seo Kim ◽  
So Yun Jeong ◽  
Bongsoo Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Radiation ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Radiation Detectors ◽  
Radiation Measurement ◽  
Nuclear Facility ◽  
Laptop Computer ◽  
Radiological Characterization

In this study, a radiation measurement system with multifunctions for the rapid radiological characterization of a decommissioned nuclear facility site was developed and evaluated. The system remotely and simultaneously measures the beta and gamma radiation from the soil at a decommissioned nuclear facility site and wirelessly transmits the measurement data to the main server, which collects and analyzes the data. The radiation-measuring part of the system is composed of a sensing probe, multichannel analyzer (MCA), and laptop computer. The sensing probe is a phoswich radiation sensor (PHORS) consisting of two inorganic scintillators (NaI(Tl) and CaF2(Eu)), each of which simultaneously measures the count rates and energies of the beta and gamma radiation. To test the performance of the PHORS, the beta and gamma radiation from a radiation source at 0–10 cm depths (at steps of 1 cm) under a soil surface was measured. The measurements show that the radiation count rates agree well with the theoretically predicted ones; the PHORS is as good as commercial radiation detectors in providing the energy spectrum of a radionuclide. In addition, a chi-square test was conducted, and the energy resolution was evaluated. The communication part of the system consisting of a global positioning system (GPS) and long-term evolution telecommunication (LTE) modem can successfully transmit the measurement data and their location information.

Soils Radiological Characterization Under a Nuclear Facility

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Aubonnet ◽  
Didier Dubot
Keyword(s):  
Surface Characterization ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Atomic Energy Commission ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Nuclear Facility ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Alternative Energies ◽  
Radiological Characterization ◽  
Remediation Process

Nowadays, nuclear industry is facing a crucial need in establishing radiological characterization for the appraisal and the monitoring of any remediation work. Regarding its experience in this domain, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) of Fontenay-aux-Roses, established an important feedback and developed over the last 10 years a sound methodology for radiological characterization. This approach is based on several steps: - historical investigations; - assumption and confirmation of the contamination; - surface characterization; - in-depth characterization; - rehabilitation objectives; - remediation process. The amount of measures, samples and analysis is optimized for data processing using geostatistics. This approach is now used to characterize soils under facilities. The paper presents the radiological characterization of soils under a facility basement. This facility has been built after the first generation of nuclear facilities, replacing a plutonium facility which has been dismantled in 1960. The presentation details the different steps of radiological characterization from historical investigations to optimization of excavation depths, impact studies and contaminated volumes.

scholarly journals A new natural gamma radiation measurement system for marine sediment and rock analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Vasiliev ◽  
P. Blum ◽  
G. Chubarian ◽  
R. Olsen ◽  
C. Bennight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Radiation ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Marine Sediment ◽  
Radiation Measurement ◽  
Natural Gamma ◽  
Rock Analysis

Radiological Characterization of a Copper/Cobalt Mining and Milling Site

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew G. Arno ◽  
Janine Katanic Arno ◽  
Donald A. Halter ◽  
Robert O. Berry ◽  
Ian S. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Gamma Radiation ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Soil Sampling ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Uranium Mine ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Radiological Characterization

Extensive copper and cobalt ore deposits can be found in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo near the city of Kolwezi. These deposits have been mined via open pit and underground mines since the 19th century with many changes in control of the mines including colonial industrial control and Congolese government control. With the recent re-establishment of a relatively stable democratic government in the DRC, foreign investors returned to the area to restart mining activities that were abruptly terminated in the 1990’s due to political turmoil. Some of these new projects are being performed in accordance with World Bank and International Finance Corporation Social & Environmental Sustainability standards. As part of these standards, radiological characterization of the mines, processing facilities, and surrounding environment was conducted to establish current conditions, evaluate human health and ecological risks, and provide a basis for establishment of radiation safety and environmental remediation programs. In addition to naturally occurring radioactive materials associated with the copper/cobalt ore, the site was reputedly historically used to store ore from the Shinkolobwe uranium mine, the source of the uranium ore for the World War II Manhattan project. The radiological characterization was conducted via extensive gamma radiation surveys using vehicle-mounted sodium-iodide detectors, random grid composite soil sampling, biased soil sampling of areas with elevated gamma radiation levels, and sampling of surface water features. The characterization revealed broad areas of elevated gamma radiation levels of up to 160 μGy/hr in two distinct areas believed to be the Shinkolobwe uranium mine ore storage locations. Other areas, with gamma radiation levels of up to 80 μGy/hr, were detected associated with copper/cobalt ore refinery tailings and waste rock (overburden) sediments. The gamma radiation surveys revealed that elevated radiation levels were largely confined to areas previously disturbed by mechanized mining activities. Radiological contaminants in local surface water sources were within drinking water standards with the exception of one river heavily polluted with both uranium and other metals by waste streams from an ore processing and refining facility. Surrounding areas that appeared to be undisturbed by mining, including agricultural areas, native villages, and urban colonial-architecture cities, exhibited soil concentration and gamma radiation levels consistent with expected background levels.

scholarly journals Vocabulary of radioanalytical methods (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhifang Chai ◽  
Amares Chatt ◽  
Peter Bode ◽  
Jan Kučera ◽  
Robert Greenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Reactions ◽  
Hyperfine Interactions ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Radiation Detectors ◽  
Nuclear Analysis ◽  
Characterization Of Materials ◽  
Nuclear Effects ◽  
Nuclear Processes ◽  
Radioanalytical Methods

AbstractThese recommendations are a vocabulary of basic radioanalytical terms which are relevant to radioanalysis, nuclear analysis and related techniques. Radioanalytical methods consider all nuclear-related techniques for the characterization of materials where ‘characterization’ refers to compositional (in terms of the identity and quantity of specified elements, nuclides, and their chemical species) and structural (in terms of location, dislocation, etc. of specified elements, nuclides, and their species) analyses, involving nuclear processes (nuclear reactions, nuclear radiations, etc.), nuclear techniques (reactors, accelerators, radiation detectors, etc.), and nuclear effects (hyperfine interactions, etc.). In the present compilation, basic radioanalytical terms are included which are relevant to radioanalysis, nuclear analysis and related techniques.

scholarly journals Biochar Chemistry in a Weathered Tropical Soil: Kinetics of Phosphorus Sorption

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
Marina Moura Morales ◽  
Nicholas Brian Comerford ◽  
Maurel Behling ◽  
Daniel Carneiro de Abreu ◽  
Iraê Amaral Guerrini
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Kinetic Studies ◽  
Inorganic Phosphorus ◽  
Initial Reaction ◽  
Phosphorus Sorption ◽  
P Sorption ◽  
Published Research ◽  
Kinetics Of

The phosphorus (P) chemistry of biochar (BC)-amended soils is poorly understood. This statement is based on the lack of published research attempting a comprehensive characterization of biochar’s influence on P sorption. Therefore, this study addressed the kinetic limitations of these processes. This was accomplished using a fast pyrolysis biochar made from a mix of waste materials applied to a highly weathered Latossolo Vermelho distrofico (Oxisol) from São Paulo, Brazil. Standard method (batch method) was used. The sorption kinetic studies indicated that P sorption in both cases, soil (S) and soil-biochar (SBC), had a relatively fast initial reaction between 0 to 5 min. This may have happened because adding biochar to the soil decreased P sorption capacity compared to the mineral soil alone. Presumably, this is a result of: (i) Inorganic phosphorus desorbed from biochar was resorbed onto the mineral soil; (ii) charcoal particles physically covered P sorption locations on soil; or (iii) the pH increased when BC was added SBC and the soil surface became more negatively charged, thus increasing anion repulsion and decreasing P sorption.

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